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Report Your Sightings! |
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Fewer hummers at your feeder these days? Are these travelers really gone, or is something else at work? What do you think? Find out what an expert thinks. Watch this season's hummingbird migration maps in action. What big ideas can you learn from them? A BIG thank you for helping track hummers this spring!
Today's Report Includes:
- The Migration: Highlights, Maps and Journal
- Animations: Snapshots of the 2011 Spring Migration
- Patience: Lull in Action at the Feeder
- A Special Thanks! to our Hummer Helpers
- Annual Evaluation: Please Share Your Thoughts
Rewards for Hummingbird Sighters
"I have fallen in love with hummers watching webcams of nests on the internet. Decided to try to attract hummers to my backyard. I just put a feeder out yesterday for the first time ever. I am so excited I had a male visit today about 7pm. I am so happy that I was able to see a real life hummingbird today," said a woman in Ontario.
"Finally!! Knew they had been sighted in my area for a while,but I finally saw my first a the feeder today!! Think it might be the female that first visited me last August before heading South. Yeah!!," said a woman in Yarmouth, Massachusetts.
A lucky observer in Cohasset, Massachusetts saw their first female for the season and was rewarded immediately with aerial displays from a male.
In Riverside, California one observer has a nest built n the top of her windchimes on the patio. We hope the wind doesn't blow too hard for a while!
Gardeners Serving Sweet Treats
What do you notice the hummingbirds nectaring on in your neighborhood? Observers have reported seeing hummers feeding on apple blossoms, raspberry blooms, salvia and cuphea flowers in their gardens. Keep a list of hummingbird favorites handy for selecting your garden flowers!
Pattern of the male rubythroat's aerial display
Photo: Jack Moskovita
From Tacoma, Washington, photographer Jack Moskovita
wrote, "My first Rufous left a few days ago and this one turned up shortly after... a real beauty! It took me a few hours to get the shot with the flowers that I wanted.
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Ruby-throated
Hummingbird Migration Spring 2011 |
Rufous
Hummingbird Migration Spring 2011 |
- What week
showed greatest numbers of hummer sightings reported? Was there one
or two weeks when the leading edge pushed far into new territory? When
did that happen?
- Choose one species. Describe how the migration moved forward week-by-week after the hummingbirds entered the United States. (You can draw arrows on a blank map to show this.)
Some Journey North observers report spotting ruby-throated hummingbirds
this spring, but then the numbers of sightings drastically decreased. They wonder what's going on.
Hummingbird researcher and bander Bill Hilton shares his ideas about why this happens:
"Most years we remind people of two things: 1) There is always an apparent rush of hummers in April that tapers off as some ruby-throats continue northward, as local females spend more time incubating, and local males defend territories rather than visiting feeders; and, 2) The greatest numbers of ruby-throats occur in August and early September when adults and the current year's fledglings are ALL frequenting our feeders. We encourage folks to be patient in spring, keeping their feeders fresh and waiting until later in the summer." Meet Bill Hilton, Jr.
We are also grateful to all the photographers who generously allowed Journey North to post images of hummingbirds and their amazing antics!
And finally, thanks to all of YOU for keeping your eyes open, feeders full, and reports prompt. We couldn't track these species without your help! We look forward to seeing you again to track the fall migration!
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Year-end Evaluation: Please Share Your Thoughts
This is the FINAL Hummingbird Migration Update for Spring 2011. Join us in the fall to track the hummingbird's fall migration.
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